Have you kept your wisdom teeth? If so, you might be noticing symptoms like orofacial pain, crowding of your teeth, and popping or clicking sensations when you move your mouth. Retaining wisdom teeth is one common cause of TMJ disorder.
Can wisdom teeth affect your jaw?
Stiffness in Jaw & Swollen Gums
As your wisdom teeth come in, they can push against your other teeth and make them move. This in turn can cause discomfort in your jaw, so it feels stiff, sore and difficult to open. This can also cause swelling of both the gum in the back of the mouth or on the side of the jaw.
Is it TMJ or wisdom teeth?
The most common symptom between both wisdom teeth and temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, is a constant pain in the back of your mouth, near the TMJ. If it’s a wisdom tooth issue, the pain will often extend to neighboring teeth as well. It’s also difficult to eat in many cases.
Can wisdom teeth cause jaw misalignment?
There are many causes and risk factors of malocclusion. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause misalignments because they can erupt at an undesirable angle toward the adjacent teeth. This causes the adjacent teeth to shift from their normal position.
Can removing wisdom teeth cure TMJ?
If you have an TMJ disorder and your wisdom teeth, removing those teeth can improve your occlusion and relieve your TMJ – especially if you subsequently undergo orthodontic treatment to realign your teeth. Maintaining wisdom teeth can also lead to other oral health problems.
Can wisdom teeth cause jaw and ear pain?
This is because your wisdom teeth and jaw joints are located so close to the ears. Discomfort from impacted wisdom teeth may affect your ears, causing an earache. Problems with both your jaw and ears can make it difficult to determine the origin of your pain.
What are the symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth?
However, when an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, damages other teeth or causes other dental problems, you may experience some of these signs or symptoms:
- Red or swollen gums.
- Tender or bleeding gums.
- Jaw pain.
- Swelling around the jaw.
- Bad breath.
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth.
- Difficulty opening your mouth.
What happens if you wait too long to get wisdom teeth out?
They can become impacted into the gum tissue and lead to infection, too. If a patient waits too long to have wisdom teeth extracted, these teeth can severely affect the alignment of teeth and produce moderate facial pain and toothaches.
How long does TMJ typically last?
Acute TMJ symptoms and signs may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks and then disappear after the injury or cause of discomfort has resolved. For a chronic TMJ condition, the symptoms can be ongoing with episodes of sharp and/or dull pain that occur over an extended period of time (months to years).
What happens if TMJ goes untreated?
Eventually, TMJ disorder can lead to tinnitus or even permanently compromised hearing. Inner ear problems can also produce difficulties with balance and recurring dizziness. Similarly, vision can be compromised by untreated TMJ symptoms. TMJ can also lead to serious jaw problems.
How do I know if my jaw is misaligned?
The following are misaligned jaw symptoms you should look out for: Pain and stiffness when chewing – patients suffering from misaligned teeth suffer from jaw pain and discomfort caused by stiffness of the muscles. The pain or stiffness may be coupled with a persistent clicking noise in your ear as you chew.
Can wisdom teeth cause jaw pain on one side?
More often than not, pain on one side of your jaw is linked to a dental problem like cavities, an abscess, wisdom teeth, gum disease, missing or misaligned teeth, or clenching and grinding.
When should I see a dentist for wisdom teeth pain?
If the pain does not go away or if you find it difficult to open your mouth, you should see your dentist. They will be able to see the cause of the problem, and give you the right advice. They may clean around the tooth very thoroughly, and may prescribe an antibiotic.
Who do I see for jaw popping?
Your dentist will listen for jaw clicks and pops, test your bite, and check for tenderness or issues with your facial muscles. He or she may also take digital dental x-rays or order an MRI to see if something other than TMJ is causing your jaw pain.
How do I get my jaw to stop popping?
Home remedies for jaw clicking
- TMJ exercises. Certain clicking jaw exercises can help to alleviate jaw clicking and pain. …
- Ice or heat packs. …
- Anti-inflammatory drugs. …
- Eat soft foods. …
- Wear a dental guard at night. …
- Improve your posture. …
- Relaxing exercises.
Is TMJ serious?
After being diagnosed with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), many of our Nashville, TN, patients ask, “Is TMJ disorder serious?” The answer is that although the condition is not life-threatening, it can have significant negative effects on your dental and overall health.